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Settlers storm Al-Aqsa, while women prevented from entering

November 17, 2014 at 2:30 pm

Israeli forces stationed at Al-Aqsa Mosque in East Jerusalem prevented women of all ages from entering the mosque for the second day in a row, while settlers were permitted to storm the mosque from the Al-Magharbeh gate.

An official from the Islamic Awqaf Department in Jerusalem said Israeli police prevented women from entering the mosque today but allowed men to enter.

He added: “There are a number of women standing at the mosque’s gate demanding to enter Al-Aqsa.”

The clashes occurring in Jerusalem were at the centre of the talks held last Thursday in Amman, Jordan, between King Abdullah II, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and US Secretary of State John Kerry.

During the meeting, Netanyahu vowed to maintain the status quo at Al-Aqsa.

On Friday, Israeli police opened the mosque to worshippers from East Jerusalem and other Arab cities and villages in Israel. Some 40,000 worshippers prayed in the mosque on that day.

One of the mosque’s guards said that about 10 settlers stormed Al-Aqsa Mosque this morning from the Al-Magharbeh gate, one of the gates of the Western Wall, which was guarded by Israeli police.

There has been no explanation from Israeli police as to why women were prevented from entering the mosque.